Locking-nut.



, UNITED STATES Patented August 18, 190?.

PATENT ()FFIOE.

MCKINLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCKING-NUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N0..736,368, dated August18, 1903.

Application filed December 11, 1900. Serial No. 39,460. d (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MELVIN E. DONALLY, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing in the borough of Brooklyn, city of New York, andState of New York, have invented of construction and combination ofparts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bolt,showing the locking-nut in section secured thereto in its operativeposition. Fig. 2 is atop view of the locking-nut shown in Fig. 1 withthe bolt in section. Fig. 3 represents a side view of the spring. Fig.4: represents a top view of another form of locking-nut with the bolt insection. Fig. 5 represents a vertical section of a locking-nut on theline 5 5 in Fig. 4 With the bolt in elevation. Fig. 6 is a side View ofthe washer forming part of the locking-nut shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Figs.7 and 8 represent a top view and a vertical section, respectively, ofanother form of the locking-nut, the bolt being shown in section and inelevation in the respective views. Fig. 9 represents a top view ofanother form of locking-nut with the bolt in section. Fig. 10 representsa vertical section of the locking-nut shown in Fig. 9 with the bolt inelevation. Fig. 11 represents a section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

The locking-nut consists, essentially, of a sleeve or washer a and aspring I). The washer incloses all or a portion of the spring and isprovided with a central opening the diameter of which will permit thespring to thread onto the bolt, but will prevent said spring fromspreading and slipping past the threads of the bolt when pressure isbrought to bear against either the spring or the washer, the opening orbore being smooth or threadless and hav ing no engagement with the bolt.Preferably the spring consists of two or more complete turns or coils;but a greater number of turns maybe used, if desired. The washer may being drawings. Fig. 1 represents a washer havmg a longitudinal groove orslot 0 formed therein. The wall of the central opening of the washer isinclined or beveled at or near the face of the washer nearest the headof the bolt to form a bevel or shoulder d therein. The ends of thespring are bent outward slightly to engage in the groove or slotprovided in the wall of the recess, and the lower or inner end of thespringthat end nearest the head of the bolt-remains permanently inengagement with the groove or slot, so that the spring can be turned offfrom the bolt with the washer. The opposite or outer end of the springis engaged in the slot only when it is desired to spread the spring sothat it can be threaded onto the bolt. \Vhen the washer and spring areturned up to the desired position, the upper end of the spring isslipped out of engagement with the slot and the spring seats tightlyupon the bolt. In case the groove or slot is not formed in the wall ofthe recess a stud or projection e, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is formedon the top of the washer and is adapted to engage the upper end of thespring and thread same onto the nut. Since no means are provided in thisconstruction for spreading the spring, the lower turn of the coilthereof is preferably made slightly larger than the adjacent turns andof sufficient diameter to thread onto the bolt, as shown in Fig. 3.Preferably a single coil is used with the washer shown in Figs. l to 6,inclusive, and such washer is provided with a double or V- shaped slotf. The ends of the. spring are turned outwardly and engage in this slot,which may be provided with notches g to hold the spring spread and inits threading position. As the washer and spring are threaded onto thenut the ends of the spring are disengaged from the notches and aregradually forced toward each other at or near the junction of the twobranches of the slot, thereby drawing the ends of the spring togetherand forcing the spring into engagement with the bolt. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 9 to 11 the washer is countersunk, so thatthe upper part of the central opening will have a larger diameter thanthe lower part.

ICO

a washer having a smooth bore to encircle the The diameter of the lowerpart is slightly greater than the diameter of the bolt, so that when theopening is arranged eccentric to the bolt the end of the wire can beinserted between the bolt and the wall of the opening, as shown in Figs.10 and 11. Preferably this washer is not formed with a groove or slot,and consequently is provided with a lug or projection on its top, sothat the spring can be threaded onto the bolt. The beveled portion ofthe washer, or the shoulder formed therein, prevents the washer frombeing removed from the spring, and in case the washer is beveled anystrain or stress brought against the washer except in a direction atright angles to the axis of the bolt tends to force the spring moreclosely into engagement with the bolt, thereby locking both the springand washer securely in their adjusted positions. The washer and springmay be secured together as a single commercial article and can beassembled at the place of manufacture and shipped to be used as desired.Since no threads are provided on the washer, the locking-nut can be usedupon bolts of slightlyvarying diameters and of any pitch of thread. Nospecial tools 01": any kind are required to apply the same to the boltother than the on dinary tools necessary in applying nuts of the usualconstruction.

I claim as my invention 1. A locking-nut, comprising a spring, and

spring and prevent the same from disengagement from the threads of thebolt, and formed to engage the spring to prevent relative lon gitudinalmovement, said washer being also provided with means to engage thespring and spread the same so that it will thread onto a bolt,substantially as described.

2. A locking-nut, comprising a spring, and a washer having a smooth boreto encircle the spring and prevent the same from disengagement from thethreads of the bolt, and formed to engage the spring to prevent relativelongitudinal movement, said washer being provided with means to engagethe spring to remove the same from the bolt with the washer,substantially as described.

3. In a locking-nut, the combination with a bolt, of a spring having itslower turn of greater diameter than the adjacent turns engaging with thethreads of said bolt, and a washer encircling the spring and providedwith means to thread the same onto the bolt, substantially as described.

4. In a locking-nut, the combination with a bolt, of a washer having acentral opening provided with a double slot communicating with saidopening, and a springencircling the bolt and having its end engaging insaid slot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this application, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 6th day of December, 1900.

MELVIN E. DONALLY.

Witnesses:

A.'N. JEsBERA, LUCIUS E. VARNEY.

